Coffee and Productivity?

I've been drinking coffee regularly the day I entered the workforce in 2009. Other than the late night study binges in the library, caffeine was absent from my life in college.

When I entered the workforce, I started a habit of drinking several cups of coffee in the morning. If I started to crash in the afternoon, I would drink another cup. Over the weekends, my coffee intake would increase. Saturday and Sunday were filled with coffee fueled workouts, long walks with my wife, surf sessions, and for hanging around town or exploring new places in California.

I never thought twice about my caffeine intake. I enjoyed the hyper focus I received from the morning cup of joe. I accepted that my irritability and anxiety were part of my identity. Coffee made me happy and the side effects were only part of who I was. In the workplace, coffee helped me focus on the task at hand. However, after a few hours, I would find myself focusing on things outside of my job duties. I never correlated my workplace anxiety and nervousness to my coffee intake.

The past two weeks I've started experimenting with taking a break from coffee. I've weened myself off caffeinated products and have been using decaf. It tastes great and I still get a similar kick. Personally and professionally I've noticed a few positive trends that I'd like to share:

1. Improved focus and clarity. I find myself able to focus on a single task for an extended period of time without caffeine. I can dive into an activity without getting distracted as easily. I am able to focus on getting the work done without checking social media, the news, blogs, and personal email every few hours. I also do not experience the crash of focus in the afternoon. I can stay on task and dive deep into the work without getting distracted.

2. Less fog. The mid-day headache and fogginess has gone away. When I'm tired, it is because I have been working hard and have been using brain power. It is not from the caffeine depletion. For some reason, I feel more clear about life and my work.

3. Less anger and irritability. Sometimes I could feel my blood pressure rise when I was being tailgated by a vehicle while driving. I would curse under my breath wondering why someone was so close behind me in a car. At work, I could get short with people after a long day of caffeine fueled discussions and focus. I'd also experience a hunger increase in the morning after drinking cups of coffee. All of these factors increased my irritability but have since been resolved since quitting coffee.

4. Less anxiety and stress. As I've gotten older I've realized that I am naturally prone to anxiety and stress. In the workplace this reveals itself in getting flush when presenting or feeling anxious when speaking to large groups. Since quitting coffee I have less anxiety and stress. I am more confident in the work that needs to get done. I've also noticed that I no longer become red or flush without coffee. My blood pressure is kept at a constant rate and I'm able to monitor my breathing better.

5. More stamina. Over the weekend the surf was pumping in Santa Cruz. Before surfing or working out I would consume heavy amounts of coffee. After an hour, I would start to become irritable, hungry, and dehydrated. However, over the weekend without coffee, I noticed that I had much more stamina in the water. I did not become irritable and could stay in the ocean much longer. I never experienced stamina like that before. I've come to wonder if it was because of the zero caffeine intake.

Warning. If you give up caffeine you will experience some withdrawals. Afternoon headaches and sluggishness. However, this only last three days from my experience!

At the end of the day, you have to make your own decision about whether you should give up caffeine. I've noticed a ton of benefits in the workplace. I feel like my true self. If you are experiencing anxiety, nervousness, irritability, lack of focus, or stress in the workplace, examine your coffee intake. You may be drinking too much. Switch to decaf for a week or two and see how you like it. The benefits may shock you!